Homework 0: Pick a Device

Due on Monday, May 21, 2012

All of the assignments in this course will be individual. Most of them will
involve creating a simulated user interface for a complex device. Each student
will pick a different device. However, for a multi-function device, multiple
people can pick the same device as long as they pick different functions
on that device (for example, someone can do basic setup of a DVD and someone
else can do setting of timed recordings on a DVD-R). You will use the device you
select for the entire course, so choose wisely. You will need to pick a
device with some complexity; that is, with some tasks that are difficult to do.

Below are some examples that might be
selected, but feel free to make up your own, with permission of the instructor.

Note that if you want to use a product, system or website of your company, that is fine, but it has to be public (that is, not secret), so that others can see the current design, and your prototype for a redesign.

Note: for Homework 1, you will have to test a
user on a real version of the device, so you should select something
you own or have access to (it would be fine to use a CMU copier, for
example),

On or before Monday, May 21, 2012, each student will pick a device. Here are some ideas:

Any desktop or web interface that has at least 30 controls, not counting web links. For web pages, it should have at least 10 pages (including product description pages). For desktop applications, it should have at least 5 different screens or dialog boxes.